Local Democracy Reporting Service
Tom Davis

Reports of hate crime have increased in Coventry, with a particular spike in incidents "during and after the EU Referendum", a new report says., external

Incidents reported rose from 377 in 2015-16 to 404 in 2017-18, according to figures published by the Coventry Police and Crime Board.

Image source, Coventry City Council

The steady increase mirrors the overall picture in the West Midlands, with hate crime rising over the same period.

At a scrutiny meeting this week, Conservative leader Councillor Gary Ridley said the rise was a "real concern".

Craig Hickin, head of environmental services, said he believed this was because people were more confident to report crimes.

The figures for Coventry and the West Midlands were collated in a council document drafting the authority’s new Hate Crime Strategy.

BBC Business News

Shares in Tata Motors have tumbled by 17% in Mumbai after the firm posted a record quarterly loss - hit by troubles at Jaguar Land Rover.

Image source, Getty Images

The firm's JLR unit has been hurt by softer demand in China, and has embarked on a major restructuring programme to boost profitability.

It's dependence on diesel models has also been criticised by some industry experts.

The firm has already announced plans to cut thousands of jobs.

BBC News Travel

There's disruption on the trains between Wolverhampton, Telford and Shrewbury this morning.

It's been caused by a signal failure.

The problem has now been fixed, although delays may continue.

When Dai Young won his 50th Wales cap, son Thomas was one of the then-captain's mascots. On Saturday, Young junior starts for Wales against Italy.

Keyless car technology has made stealing vehicles easier for criminals, according to the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).

Car crime in the West Midlands has almost tripled since 2015, according to figures released by PCC David Jamieson's office.

He said he's so angry at the "apparent ease" at which criminals are stealing vehicles, he's naming and shaming manufacturers whose vehicles are being taken most often.

The figures show that Fords are the most popular among thieves.

The PCC's data also reveals that Audi and BMW have both seen more than a threefold increase in the theft of their vehicles.

But industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) recently said "new cars are more secure than ever".

Mike Hawes, head of the SMMT, said: "Industry takes vehicle crime extremely seriously and any claims otherwise are categorically untrue."

Toys flowers and balloons were left close to the site where four children died in a house fire.

Pastor Chrissie Remsberg told the BBC: "In the midst of what is really, really dark, there aren't words to offer, but I think people and the community came out because they love and they care about the family.

"It's a tight-knit community Highfields, it's a good place."

Organiser of the vigil and landlady Debbie Howe said: "I'm hoping it brings people together, hopefully people can reach out to each other tonight, people can hopefully have a chat, I think that's what they need."

Hundreds of people have taken part in a candlelit vigil following the deaths of four children in a Stafford house fire.

Riley Holt, eight, Keegan Unitt, six, Tilly Rose Unitt, four, and Olly Unitt, three, died in the blaze in Highfields, Stafford on Tuesday morning.

The community walked from the Oxleathers pub on the Highfields estate to the scene of Tuesday's fire.

They left flowers and teddy bears and let off balloons for the family.

Investigations are continuing into the cause of the fire.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

Patchy rain will turn heavier later this morning and into the afternoon before clearing to leave sunny spells.

Top temperatures today will be 11C (52F).

Vanessa Pearce
BBC News

Welcome to our live service for Friday.

We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.

We love to hear from you so share your news, thoughts and photos of the area with us via email, Twitter , externaland Facebook, external.

The road is to close for four weeks after a new junction created problems for motorists.

Saffiyah Khan stood up to the EDL while wearing a Specials T-shirt - now she has a powerful track on their new album.

The man, who cannot be identified, said he had "no idea" his son was going to be attacked.

We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 07:00 tomorrow, but keep an eye out here for more updates this evening and into the morning.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Plans to recruit an extra 115 West Mercia Police officers through a rise in the police's portion of council tax have been approved today., external

Image source, PA

The Police and Crime Commmissioner John Campion's budget will see an increase of £13m for policing, with the police precept rising by 9.94% in 2019-20. , external

Mr Campion says there will be extra cash to tackle rural crime, increase CCTV and improve road safety.

BBC Sport

Coventry's Luke Ferrara and Ben Lake both scored for the Great Britain ice hockey team in a 3-1 win over Dinamo Riga last night.

The match, at Coventry Blaze's Skydome ice rink, was a warm-up for the World Championships in May.

Image source, Getty Images

Ferrara got the first goal of the game and Lake added the second, in his Great Britain debut.

The team also has friendlies lined up against Italy, Hungary and Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod.

Bob Hockenhull
BBC Midlands Today

A pivotal moment in the extension of the West Midlands Metro network's been marked today.

Image source, Midland Metro Alliance

The first tram tracks were laid in Victoria Square in Birmingham, which will form part of the Westside extension with trams running along Broad Street to Five Ways, Edgbaston., external

The West Midland Combined Authority says it aims to get them going to Centenary Square by the end of the year.

It says the scheme is part of an overall £1.35bn expansion of the region’s tram network over the next decade, with new lines serving Birmingham, the Black Country and Solihull.

Kidderminster Shuttle

The Kidderminster Shuttle's covering these stories today:

• Firm sells Kidderminster sports ground for £2m, external
• Man jailed for assault and shop thefts in Kidderminster, external
• Sports centre could be turned into a caravan park, external

Sarah Robertson
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

A vigil's going to be held this evening following a fatal fire in Stafford in which four children were killed.

Image source, Handout

Riley Holt, eight, Keegan Unitt, six, Tilly Rose Unitt, four, and Olly Unitt, three, were killed in the blaze Sycamore Lane, Highfields on Tuesday morning.

The children's mother and her partner leapt from a first-floor window with the siblings' two-year-old brother.

Image source, Getty Images

Members of the community have said on Facebook that they plan to start at the Oxleaters pub at 20:30 and then walk to the scene of the blaze.

They say they'll take flowers and teddies and will say a prayer.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

A man is accusing the trust running Worcestershire Royal Hospital of playing with people's lives after his cancer treatment was cancelled.

Image source, Google

Andrew Jones, from Hereford, was due to have an operation for mouth cancer next week but says, just days ago, he was told that, because the hospital is in special measures, he'd have to go elsewhere.

He's told BBC Hereford and Worcester that it's having a huge impact on his family and friends and his work.

The Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has denied cancelling the surgery because they're in special measures but says it is sending a small number of patients to specialist centres in the interests of their own safety.

New tram tracks are laid in Birmingham city centre as part of a tram extension.